Greenwich routs Ridgefield in Senior Legion baseball

Scott Ericson

Updated 11:33 pm, Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Collin O'Meara, right, # 8 of Ridgefield, reacts to being called safe by the umpire as Greenwich catcher Ricky Okazaki, center, searches for the ball during a play at the plate in the top of the second inning in Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Ridgefield first baseman Alex Tuccio, left, stretches for the ball as Dylan Callahan of Greenwich # 5 is out on a close play during the bottom of the first inning of Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Greenwich catcher Ricky Okazaki tags out Devin Martin # 44 of Ridgefield during a play at the plate in the top of the second inning in the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Greenwich catcher Ricky Okazaki huddles with teammates during the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Dylan Callahan of Greenwich grounds out during the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Dylan Callahan of Greenwich grounds out in the bottom of the first inning of the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Ridgefield third baseman Joe Hannigan makes a play during the senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Ricky Okazaki of Greenwich grounds out during the bottom of the first inning in the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Ryan Debany # 24 of Ridgefield fouls-off a pitch during the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Matt Pruner # 2 of Greenwich grounds out during the bottom of the second inning of the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

Dylan Callahan of Greenwich lines out to the pitcher during the bottom of the second inning in Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012.
Photo: Bob Luckey

From a chair behind the centerfield fence, Michiko Okazaki of Greenwich, watches the Senior American Legion baseball game between Ridgefield and Greenwich at Julian Curtiss School in Greenwich, Tuesday, July, 3, 2012. Okazaki's son, Ricky, is the catcher for the Greenwich team.
Photo: Bob Luckey

The Greenwich Senior American Legion team qualified for the postseason with a win Monday, but that hardly meant it was time to let up against a fourth-place Ridgefield team that needed a victory on Tuesday to stay within striking distance of first place in Zone 4.

The Cannons broke open a tie game in the fourth inning, batting around and scoring five runs en route to an 8-2 victory at Julian Curtiss School.

The win moves first-place Greenwich to 16-2, while Ridgefield fell to 12-7.

"It was a close game," Greenwich coach Mike Abate said. "We got up on them early, they came back and then we just exploded in that one inning and kind of took the wind out of their sails."

Brian Schutzman picked up the win, pitching five innings, striking out eight.

The game was protested by Ridgefield coach Tim Forcelli in the sixth inning, claiming Abate was using tobacco on the field during the game, which is against Legion rules.

No tobacco was found in Abate's mouth by umpires and Forcelli refused to speak with reporters after the game.

Greenwich got on the board in the first on four straight two-out singles by Taylor Olmstead, Cam Fennell, Matt Henkel and Ryan Hardin, scoring two runs.

Ridgefield answered back in the second on an RBI-double by Devon Martin and a bad throw by the catcher back to the pitcher later in the inning that allowed Martin to score from third.

Schutzman settled in after the second before giving way to Kyle Dunster, who pitched the last two innings, striking out four.

The Cannons opened up the game in the fourth, again rallying with two outs, with the big blows coming on a bases-loaded, ground-rule double by Brendon Hardin and a two-run single by Olmstead.

After struggling to score runs early in the year, the Cannons have found their stroke lately.

"I think it is really just the approach," Hardin said. "We have been facing pitchers that have been using off-speed pitches and our hands are slowing down and we were pulling off the ball, and now I think we are really getting into a rhythm and starting to sit back on those off-speed pitches and trying to drive them the other way."

Brendon Hardin finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Olmstead was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs and Fennell was 3 for 4 with a run scored.

"Cam has been hitting well all year," Abate said. "He has also been playing a hell of a third base for us.

"It is nice to see when those guys hit because the other guys see that and feed off it and get on base. We have a lot of speed on this team, too, so when they put the ball in play and they dig it out, anything is possible."